Amsterdam mayor berhard van der Laan has announced that 44 coffeeshops located too close to schools under a new national law may remain open for business until at least the end of 2012.

Under a law passed by the previous Dutch government all so-called coffeeshops located within 250 metres walking distance from a school would have to close down by the end of this year. »

The Dutch government has decided that coffeeshops in the Netherlands will no longer be allowed to sell high-potency weed and hash.

Cannabis products containing more than 15 percent THC, the main active chemical, will be classified alongside hard drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy. »

The coalition agreement of the current Dutch government includes a provision that there must be a minimum distance of 350 meters beween cannabis-selling coffeeshops and the nearest school.

In 2010, 21 coffeeshops in Amsterdam were located within that distance from a school. »